Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Welcome.

Firstly, a huge welcome to publishers migrating over from Bloglet over the next few days. We're glad you're here, and know that you will enjoy the opportunities to further build your email readership that we at FeedBlitz provide. If you wish to find out more about us, please read the FAQs and subscribe to our hints and tips subscriptions (for subscribers or publishers). If you have any questions, please email us at support@feedblitz.com

Thank you.

Obviously, I am thrilled that Monsur, Bloglet's founder, has recommended us to his users. Thank you, Monsur. But lest anyone think we're about to suffer a dose of hubris or schadenfreude, hold that thought.

You see, Monsur was not just a pioneer, he was the pioneer in the blog and RSS to email world. Were it not for his efforts and his initial success, those of use who came later would have been unable to take advantage of the groundwork he laid. Perhaps Bloglet became a victim of its own initial success, a fuzzy business model or other factors in the end (and in Bloglet's passing there are lessons for us all in the Web 2.0 world). But regardless, the value and virtue that Bloglet showed in the post-bubble days that it wasn't the technology that mattered, but instead its application. It was true then. I believe that it remains true now.

Yes it's true. FeedBlitz was built - and to a degree enjoyed it's early success - because of dissatisfaction with Bloglet. But that does not deny Bloglet's early innovations, and so it's therefore with somewhat mixed emotions that I see this early pioneer fade into the sunset, despite the benefits FeedBlitz is seeing as a result.

Time and Effort.

Ultimately, it's worth remembering that the project that was Bloglet took untold time over many years from Monsur, and to the best of my knowledge he never took a penny in return. It takes great strength to support, and then so publicly end, a personal investment of this scale. Whatever you may feel or have felt about Bloglet and its recent issues, I personally feel that kudos is due to Monsur for being able to cut the cord and call it a day while still leaving his users a migration path (to FeedBlitz). I happen to know that this isn't the only big change he's made in his life recently, and I wish him luck as he moves forward.

Farewell.

So farewell, then, to Bloglet, and welcome to Bloglet users. But credit where it's due. May you fare well, Monsur.

Well said, and now I feel bad for at times having criticised Monsur -- I, too, wish him all the best and thank him for his pioneering efforts. He certainly did enable me to gain hundreds of subs, and for that I am truly grateful. He must be a very magnanimous person to have done it for no money and to have allowed Feedblitz to import his subs.

Love is the binding that holds you to your dreams. Love does not come over you, rather you choose to love. Only when you choose to love one forever and you stand by that dedication of love will you truly love for life and live happily ever after. abed_hany@yahoo.com abed_hany@hotmail.com